[Kristina]

Thank you James. Reading your note and the first word that came to me was ‘metanoia‘ – a transformative change of heart. That’s what’s required.

It’s so hard to comment on these issues with our own biases, wanting to default to a simple perpetrator/victim narrative, the fervour of nationalism, and that the complexity and nuances are almost too much for our nervous system to bear after two years of living in a pandemic.

I keep asking, “Where do we belong?” When we perceive ourselves as human beings, it’s only natural to belong to a country and culture, but if we thought of ourselves as galactic beings, we’d belong to the stars. Belonging is also about the longing to ‘be.’ And in displacement, how practically impossible that is.

Conflict from an external level is one thing. Inner conflict another. I can only comment for myself, but I feel my inner conflict from a particularly vicious inner tyrant does leave the same bombed-out fragments and damage that we’re witnessing in Mariupol in my psyche. Is this on par to the bodily suffering that we’re that witnessing in Ukraine? Or is it self-inflicted and the responsibilities for the damage lie with me??? There are no easy answers. I’m reminded of that Einstein quote, “Don’t listen to the person who has the answers: listen to the person who has the questions.”

It’s been a joy to experience the questions and questing with you in this space. With you on the journey – Kristina.